updated 01:15 pm EDT, Fri October 24, 2008

ALP 3.0, ALP mini OS

Access -- most famous for developing Palm-compatible operating systems after its acquisition of PalmSource -- has announced a new version of its Access Linux Platform, v3.0. For the public the most notable difference should be a new appearance, with more detail and enhanced transitional animations. Also present is LiMo (Linux Mobile) support, which should enable the use of standardized Linux apps for phones, rather than just ALP- or Palm-specific ones.

The company has also revealed ALP mini, a separate version of the OS meant for a variety of devices ranging from lower-end phones to navigation units and media players. Its featureset has been deliberately scaled back, losing compatibility with Linux apps as well as PalmOS Garnet.

Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo is expected to start using ALP in 3G FOMA phones by the second half of 2009, and the OS should also find its way onto a smartphone called the Edelweiss, which will launch in Russia at an unknown date.